Sociology

Jeffery C. Wanser, M.A.

Adjunct Instructor, Coordinator of Collection Development, Library

330-569-5358This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

As an anthropologist residing in the Dept. of Sociology, my philosophy of, or approach to, teaching is related to the context in which I find myself, the nature and needs of the students who take my courses, the influences of my own professors, and my personality. In some sense, I represent anthropology to students who are not likely to go on in the field, but who have an interest or a need for anthropological concepts or methods in their own chosen fields. I stress engagement of the students with the literature of anthropology, but also actually doing anthropology or archaeology rather than just reading about it. I try to related anthropology's relevance to the students' lives, and the relationship between the widely diverse cultures they read about with American culture, its diversity, and their own experiences. As a good anthropologist, I want to make the exotic seem everyday, and the everyday seem exotic. I want to show how seeing through the anthropological lens allows for critical thinking, effective analysis of patterns of thought and behavior, and an understanding of the interconnectedness of all aspects of culture. In this sense, my teaching mirrors the holistic nature of the discipline, the importance of context for understanding others, and the unique perspectives offered through anthropology. In the classroom I use a variety of tools, ranging from class exercises to films to discussions, and include field experience as appropriate. I am careful to emphasize the ethical aspects of anthropology and its historical context as an avenue to thoughtful understanding of both the power and responsibilities inherent in studying other people.